putting me under that heat lamp and wrapping me in a nice warm blanket . These sheets are nice too . I wonder what the thread count is . It was so cold and wet on the other side of the room . My skin is so soft . Thanks for drying me off .
Why is everyone so happy to see me ? Wait a minute . Nobody is paying attention to me anymore . They are just talking and smiling . I better start crying and holding my breath . That will get their attention .
Everyone is congratulating my parents and thanking the person who pulled me out of that dark place . They don ’ t deserve the credit . I did all the work . I was the one who endured the rainforest confined accommodations .
Albeit , everyone seems so happy and confident , especially the one who delivered me . What a great job ! Maybe I ’ ll grow up to be an obstetrician . Evidently my birth is the best part of their day .
Indeed , obstetrical practice has its gratifications . Through the arduous journey of nine months of pregnancy and the actual birth , a mother tends to develop trust and ultimate bonding with her obstetrician . It can be one of the most satisfying , uplifting and appreciated acts in medicine . Numerous heartfelt thank you notes have been written . The parents ’ love for their baby is unmatched . At times , this gratitude is the best part of my day . To complement this idea is a quote from Lionel Hampton : “ Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind .”
On the other hand , it is not always as easy and ingratiating as portrayed . For example , the hours are horrible . Those babies are notorious for picking the middle of the night to come into this world . Similar to piloting an airplane , when things go bad or an accident occurs , the results are unforgiving . Cord prolapses , abruptio placenta , stillbirths , brain damaged babies and maternal deaths occur . Sometimes these degenerate into blame and medical malpractice lawsuits .
As a consequence of bad outcomes , it benefits all of us to have dependable support : colleagues , family , partners and spouses and even pets can be trustworthy . Oftentimes we suffer in silence . However , on those nightmarish days in obstetrics , I knew when I drove home and opened the garage door , that my golden retriever , just like a good friend , would be waiting for me . As I would open the car door , he would nestle his head firmly into my lap and look up to me with big brown eyes as if to say “ Glad you ’ re home . We missed you and I ’ m not moving until you pet me .”
Consequently , on those really bad days , man ’ s best friend is the best part of my day .
Dr . Graham is a board certified obstetrician / gynecologist currently practicing gynecology at Women ’ s Care Physicians of Norton Healthcare .
This essay was a submission to the 2023 Richard Spear , MD , Memorial Essay Contest .
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